Baikal Skullcap

1/30/02 Skullcap - Healthwell Notes Historical or traditional use (may or may not be supported by scientific studies): Chinese scullcap is typically used in herbal combinations to treat inflammatory skin conditions, allergies, high cholesterol and triglycerides, and high blood pressure.1 Active Constituents: The root of Chinese scullcap contains a flavonoid substance, baicalin, that has been shown to have protective actions on the liver. Anti-allergy actions and the inhibition of bacteria and viruses in test tube studies has been documented with Chinese scullcap.2 Some initial Chinese studies, generally of low quality, suggest that Chinese scullcap may help people with acute lung, intestinal, and liver infections, as well as hay fever and hypertension.3 More extensive clinical work is needed to clearly demonstrate Chinese scullcap's effectiveness for these conditions.